SOIL testing - it doesn't have to be complex You know youshould be doing soil testing,especially with the currenthigh prices for fertiliser.But it takes time to do the sampling, how do you know which test to use and isn't all really expensive? Well, it doesn't have to be complex and it's not that expensive. If you simply want to know if you need to lime or how much and what type of fertiliser to apply, then a simple general soil test will tell you all you need to know.
The general soil test includes pH, helps you work out if you need to lime, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur - helps you work out how much and what type of fertiliser to apply, organic carbon, free lime, texture, gives you information on the general health and type of soil, and salinity.
Concerned about pH then a soil pH test is a simple test to see if you need to lime or not. Or a pH + Aluminium test is particularly useful to see if low pH is causing aluminium toxicity. High levels of aluminium will affect root growth and overall plant performance.
A Comprehensive Soil Test will give you all the information you get in the General as well as testing for 11 trace elements.
As a guide a general soil test can be about $50, a more comprehensive soil test around $150, a pH test can be had for under $20 and a leaf tissue test for the trace elements is around $100. Still not sure what you need to test for and how to do it?
Then call into the PIRSA Kingscote office or contact Lyn Dohle on 0419 846 204 and we can go through the options. Lyn can also come and help you with the sampling. And as a bonus - with every kit you can have up to three free sub soil pH tests.
Project supported by the KI Landscape Board and AgKI, through funding from the federal government's National Landcare Program.
Article Attrition: Islander, Kingscote#LandManagement------------------------------
Emily Mason
Sydney NSW
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